I've been adding in these "second position grand plié" exercises lately to work the quads, glutes, and hamstrings simultaneously. They also target the calf muscles.

When done right, these are killer. I did a set this morning, and my legs are pretty wiped.




Instructions:

1. In your natural turnout, step wide to a second position.
2. Rise up on to the balls of your feet.
3. Keeping your heels high and spreading all toes across the floor, bend your knees to sit in to a deep plié.
4. Stretch your legs to come back to the high relevé position. Repeat the bend and stretch action eight to 16 times.
5. Hold the last plié and perform eight to 16 pulses, then lower and lift heels eight to 16 times and then hold your position in deep second position plié for eight counts.